MAX’S WHYTE T-160 RS V2 £4,199
Our Big Ride creator goes bigger for 2022
It’s been a bit of a struggle to find a bike for the year, so I’m pleased to finally have one, and also to be aboard a Whyte again. At 6ft 2in, I just edge into the XL-frame camp, and it feels comfortable, because the standover height is good. I still need to tweak the set-up a bit as I settle in, but the bike quickly felt comfortable and confidence-inspiring.
Whyte aren’t known for their low weights, and with an XL frame and lots of suspension travel, my T-160 tips the scales at nearly 16kg. I’m slightly concerned about this for big XC rides, but I’m hoping that, like their other bikes, it doesn’t ride as heavily as the scales suggest. The 160 in the name refers to the amount of plush fork travel, courtesy of a RockShox Lyrik Ultimate, while the 150mm of rear squish is controlled by a Super Deluxe Ultimate RCT shock, both with good adjustability.
I like the look of the bike, with its flowing lines, internal cable routing and striking burnt-orange paintjob, with matching flashes of colour here and there. It rolls on Race Face AR 30 wheels and has a SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain with a huge 52t biggest cassette sprocket to get me up the steepest of hills, as well as powerful Code R brakes to control my speed on the way back down. Whyte’s own cockpit kit works well enough but is prime for upgrading to customise the fit and feel without spending much.
My riding is usually fast and efficient, and, although I really like technical trails, I don’t leave the ground all that much. However, the T-160 is already providing me with some newfound confidence and has had me seeking out and rattling through the rougher lines faster than I’d usually dare, grinning rather than grimacing. Yes, it’s a big-travel bike for my usual XC jaunts, but the control and comfort, especially at speed over the rough stuff, has me itching for more, and the weight hasn’t been an issue on the short maiden voyages I’ve managed so far.
Maybe I’m just excited about having a new steed and the trails drying out, but so far I’m loving the extra squish, and I’m planning some technical trips away to find out exactly what this bike (and I) can do. https://whyte.bike